The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Institute of International Studies (IIS) of Fudan University, China have signed a cooperation agreement to receive post graduate students from Fudan University at UNITAR Headquarters in Geneva in the framework of the UNITAR internship programme. This programme will allow students to gain a greater insight regarding the works of the United Nations and to obtain meaningful experiences in a challenging learning environment at the international level. At the same time, UNITAR benefits from these students’ contributions in their work within UNITAR’s programmes, to assist UNITAR in achieving its mission, which is to deliver innovative training and conduct research on knowledge systems to develop the capacity of beneficiaries.

A limited number of the best performing students will be selected from the following departments of the University, which have been identified as being of particular relevance for UNITAR activities in the fields of environment, governance, human security and diplomacy as well as research on knowledge systems innovation:

Environmental Science and Engineering Department

School of International Relations and Public Affairs

School of Management

Selected students will be assigned to one of the UNITAR programmes to work for a 6-month period to assist in training or research activities relevant to but not limited to China and the respective area of specialization of each student. They will also contribute in disseminating information regarding UNITAR to Chinese audience by translating parts of UNITAR website and communication materials into Chinese language before starting their internship at UNITAR HQ. This will allow selected students to gain knowledge about the Institute before the actual internship.

Established in 2000, the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University, whose research fields cover most of the countries and regions of the world, has 13 subsidiary research centers/research sections, including Center for American Studies, which is a national key research base for American Studies, and Center for UN and International Organizations Studies, whose director is Ambassador Chen Jian, former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and current member of the Board of Trustees of UNITAR.